Double honors for city’s Employee of the Year

Wednesday

THIBODAUX — For utility collection supervisor Rachel Mack, finding out that she was chosen as the city’s Employee of the Year was really good news.

But news that she became a grandmother Monday made the year’s end that much sweeter.

THIBODAUX — For utility collection supervisor Rachel Mack, finding out that she was chosen as the city’s Employee of the Year was really good news.

But news that she became a grandmother Monday made the year’s end that much sweeter.

Mack, 41, got a trophy and $750 worth of prizes including a stay at the Hampton Inn and a color printer for the Employee of the Year honor.

As a grandmother, she gets Za’dyn Mitchell Jolly, born 12:35 p.m. at Terrebonne General Medical Center to her daughter, 19-year-old Ariana Mack, a 2007 Thibodaux High School graduate, and 22-year-old Stephen Jolly, an employee of Aaron’s.

The baby weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces and was 19 inches long.

“I’m supposed to be happy about being Employee of the Year, but now I’m all about the baby,” Mack said. “I can’t wait to get off and go see him.”

The Employee of the Year award, announced by Mayor Charles Caillouet at the city’s annual pre-Christmas luncheon one week before the baby’s birth, went to Mack because, despite six months of being short-handed, she helped keep things running smoothly.

“Well, we had a lot of people quitting or being laid off, and I just kept the office running,” Mack said.

An Employee of the Month is chosen every month except December, said Human Resources Secretary Carolyn Kenyon. The Employee of the Year is chosen from those 11 candidates.

Caillouet said Mack embodies all of the attributes sought for the honor.

They include attitude, safety awareness, sense of ownership, appearance and communication.

He called her “hard working” and “diligent.”

Fellow employees said they were glad for Mack, on account of the honor and the new title of grandmother.

“I think it’s a great honor,” said Kelly Chighizola, 43, assistant to the finance director, “I’ve never seen a place where such a large group of people could be a family.”

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